Inquest hears how mum-of-two set herself on fire

South Terrace in South Bank, Middlesbrough, where Shamima Rohman set herself alight

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

A mum-of-two set herself on fire and later died of her injuries after rowing with her husband about buying a new house, an inquest heard.

Shamima Rohman, of South Bank, Middlesbrough, suffered horrific burns when she doused herself in turpentine and set herself alight on the evening of April 16 last year.

This week an inquest in Newcastle laid bare the unsettling series of events that led to her death.

The court heard how the 27-year-old an arguement with husband Luthfur Rohman about not being able to afford a new property escalated and ended up with Shamima pouring the highly flammable liquid over her body before setting it on fire with a lighter.

She suffered horrific burns and was unconscious in hospital for weeks until she sadly succumbed to multi-organ failure as a result of her burns.

Giving evidence, DI David Pettrick of Cleveland Police, recalled how officers Shamima’s husband was arrested following the incident at their South Terrace home.

He went on to explain that when interviewed, Luthfur painted a picture of Shamima being “dominant” and “materialistic”.

DI Pettrick told the court how family members were in the process of buying a new property in the area that would elevate them in social terms.

This prompted Shamima to tell her husband that “she wanted a similar property” but Luthfur felt they couldn’t afford it and this led to the couple arguing.

“He (Luthfur) says after they argued Shamima stated there was no point in staying with him and she said she was going to leave with the children,” said DI Pettrick.

It was heard how Luthfur told Shamima she couldn’t take the children. DI Pettrick said: “She said something along the lines of ‘if I can’t have my children there’s no point in me being here’.”

The coroner was told this was when Shamima, who had no history of mental health issues, went into the kitchen and poured turpentine over herself.

“She had a lighter in her hand and he (Luthfur) tried to reason with her.

“She actually managed to alight her arm on one occasion which he extinguished but she then ignited her torso and she went up in flames,” DI Pettrick explained.

Luthfur told police he tried to dampened the flames using a blanket and how he eventually put her in a bath of water to try and cool her down before contacting family members and the emergency services.

Shamima was taken to James Cook University Hospital before being transferred to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary where she died on May 1 last year.

Following a thorough investigation, Cleveland Police concluded there was “no tangible or credible evidence to suggest that any third party was involved”.

Dr Colin Rayner, a former plastic surgeon who was an expert advisor to officers during their investigation, backed up the force’s conclusions.

Dr Mark Egan, forensic pathologist, also told the court that while there was no scientific way to determine whether Shamima caused these injuries to herself or whether someone else did, he could say there was no evidence of physical restraint or blunt force injury prior to the incident.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Newcastle coroner Karen Dilks stated that she believed Shamima’s injuries were self inflicted but said she wasn’t “satisfied that the consequence was intended”.

She added: “What I have heard describes a spontaneous act in the heat of the moment during a domestic argument.”